Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-12-09
THREE INTERVIEWS.
HE,

OliO uIOIulu LII AUGUST, IoOO, LII. george
Iyzarde, of the til South Carolina infantry,
then on special staff detail in Richmond, Va,
was passing down line of new recruits
drawn up for medical inspection. He put
them through the usual contortions They
swung their arms, rose up on their toes,
rolled their eyes, and put our their tongues
functorily thumped and scrutinized them not
unlike a critical darby in a melon patch.
At last he halted before medium sized
yellow haired lad, whose beardless face, slen-
der physique and evasive, not to say nervous
manner indicated that youthful timidity was
strongly contending with the fiery resolution
that had doubtless brought him hither His
preternaturally large bright eyes hardly ever
rose in their glances above the surgeons sash
and sword belt. His face and neck We're well
tanned, yet his features were of classic regu-
larity and his hand small and shapely. The
routine questions as to age, ETC., were an
Swered with evident reluctance. The doctor
seemed to grow suspicious, for he suddenly
pressed his knuckles sharply against the
youths chest. The latter sprang back with a
swift appealing glance at his tormentor, who
abruptly turned, passed to the next man and
SO on down the line. When he had finished,
DR.. Iyzarde returned to the lad, and consult
ing his list, said in a cold, official tone:
"Your name is Oliver Wild!n
eyes, sir"
''You will come with me, Wild. Your case
seems to require special attention"
The surgeon led the way, while Wild with
eyes upon the ground, quietly followed him
into private Office when the latter closed
the door and turning to the would be soldier
he said sternly:
Now, miss or madam, how long have you
been masquerading in this attire and what is
your real purpose?"
The youth looked up with frightened con-
traction of feature, then assumed with effort
hardened, Indifferent air, saying:
II RELY don't make out to understand We,
SIR"
81 will make my meaning plain You are
a woman 1t is difficult to conceal such
things from a physician who knows his bust
ness. Do not deny it. Twould save you
from more public exposure Your motives
though widely mistaken, may be honorable;
yet, though the Confederacy needs soldiers
badly, we can do without women in that
capacity for while yet. also fear that in
your language, as in your actions, you are
yelling your real station in life by an as
sumption of ignorance as unnatural to you as
it seems degrading to me-"
AS Iyzarde concluded, the other lowered
his gaze to the floor and remained obstinately
silent. The doctor resumed:
''You will see that it is impossible for me
to pass you. Yet if you have real desire to
serve your country, there are other ways
wherein you may do so without unsexing
yourself. There are'-
''Do you really think so?' she interrupted.
eve may as well say "she" now) In her
earnestness she forgot her cracker dialect and
information, and spoke with pure and re-
fined enunciation.
"Certainly,n replied Iyzarde '"rhere are
hospitals needing good nurses; also the Sis
tiers of Mercy and Charity of various relig-
ious and secular orders who follow the anbu-
lance and brave shot and shell to accomplish
good work on the battlefield. The courage of
the soldier is far more essential than the de-
YoGion of hose Who minister to human suffer-
ing amid frightful perils to the living. Even
yaNr face and hands are artifcially tanned
Saeg'
Before she could resist he took one of her
hands, pushed up the coatsleeve, revealing
thereby a shapely white arm. Through the
brown upon her cheek he saw the rich color
rising as she hung her head. At this period
some one entered the outer office, and the
doctor, bidding her to remain there until his
return, went out, closing the door behind
him.
1t was several minutes before he came
back, only to find that the would be recruit
had vanished. An open window looking
into back yard, that communicated with
an alley leading to the street, explained the
manner of her exit. He afterward made
various discreet inquiries yet heard of her
no more, finally abandoning the quest with
a feeling of pique She had interested him
more than he felt the heroine of such a
freakish escapade deserved. There was a
contradiction and mystery involved there
in that puzzled and fascinated him; yet as
the months wore on these impressions gradu-
ally faded into a vague, gently regretful
memory.